David Tennant is trading in his sonic screwdriver for a crown.
The "Doctor Who" star will reprise his stage role as "Hamlet" for PBS' "Great Performances" in 2010. Tennant won critical acclaim for playing the troubled Danish prince in a 2008 production of the Royal Shakespeare Company play. Patrick Stewart also will reprise his role as Claudius/Ghost.
Tennant first will appear on PBS on Oct. 25, when he debuts as host of "Masterpiece Contemporary" when the anthology series returns with "Endgame," a political thriller about the final days of apartheid in South Africa. It stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, William Hurt and Jonny Lee Miller.
The "Contemporary" season continues Nov. 1 and 8 with "Place of Execution," a drama starring Juliet Stevenson as a TV reporter who investigates the 40-year-old disappearance of a 13-year-old girl. Tennant also will introduce "Collision," a drama about a major road accident that connects 10 strangers. It airs Nov. 15 and 22.
Tennant's "Doctor Who" will be back for two more specials this fall and winter on BBC America, "The Waters of Mars" and "The End of Time."
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Monday, August 03, 2009
Gareth David-Lloyd on whether it really is the end for Ianto
THERE has been an overwhelming reaction from fans to the death of Torchwood character Ianto Jones, played by Gareth David-Lloyd, in the miniseries Children of Earth.
Ianto's tragic demise in the arms of Captain Jack from a deadly airborne virus has had a massive impact, both here in the UK and also in the USA, where the Doctor Who spin-off is incredibly popular.
Here, Gareth talks exclusively to the Coventry Telegraph about his departure from Torchwood and his reaction to the intense outpouring of emotion from fans.
He also addresses the many questions online about whether his character will be back and if there will be a fourth season of Torchwood.
After Ianto's poignant passing, followers of the show were shocked, saddened and even griefstricken. Some were so upset that they lashed out angrily, making threats against the show's writers.
As I reported the other day, there are several campaigns to show the strength of feeling out there and to call for Ianto's return if there is another season of Torchwood.
Gareth, 28, spoke to me to clear up all the gossip and unanswered questions and address the fans who are so passionate about the programme. Here's what he had to say:
Firstly, Gareth, what did you think about the amazing reaction we have seen from fans?
"It's really flattering. It's really nice if the the show affected people emotionally. That's what any drama is aiming to do and what any actor hopes their performance will achieve, and it shows both the support for my character and for the show in general."
How did the death scene come about? Was it your choice? And what did you think about Ianto's demise?
"When I was approached about the third series, my agent said I was needed for only four of the five episodes, so obviously I twigged that it might be the end for Ianto.
"At the back of my mind I had been thinking I do not want to be playing Ianto for the bulk of my career, I don't want to become typecast, even though I was disappointed and I was expecting to do at least another full series. I would definitely have liked to have done more episodes.
"But I was really happy with what happened, how it was done. It was an exit I can proud of."
But is that really the end? Could Ianto come back, do you think they would bring him back and would you consider it?
"I would say anything could happen, especially in sci-fi. But I would not want him (Ianto) to come back too quickly, it would cheapen the scenes and take away the impact.
"But it's not to say I would say no. It's a huge part of my life and I would love any excuse to work with the crew or the other actors again.
"The bottom line is that anything could happen. I am resolved that my character is dead but I am not closed to the idea of working with the producers again."
Will there be a Season Four of Torchwood?
"I really hope there is another series, it really lent itself to the new structure of five episodes over five nights and I really liked that format. I know discussions are being had over another series of the show, it's a big possibility. They are definitely in talks.
"I would like to see the same structure but maybe one set of episodes at the start of the year and one at the end, so it is then as much as a full series."
I know you went to Comic-Con last year and are doing Dragon*Con and other US events this year. Are you hoping for offers of work in the US as a result of Torchwood?
"There has been some interest from networks in America, for sure. Torchwood has a huge following in the USA and it's definitely a springboard to other things, so we'll see what happens."
And your final thoughts to the fans out there?
"I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has made a positive response to Ianto, including donating to charity, which has been brilliant, a great way to express support and show their feelings.
"To the fans who are still absolutely devastated, I would say it is just a TV show and I am still here and still doing things even if Ianto is gone."
And Gareth is definitely not going anywhere, with a full calendar for the rest of the year. He has a whole host of appearances coming up, connected with Torchwood and also with his band, Blue Gillespie.
He and the band have a gig in Newport on August 14, in London on August 21 and at Cardiff Mardi Gras on August 29. He is presenting the Sex, Wales and Anarchy 2 arts event in Cardiff on August 30 and he will be at Dragon*Con in Atlanta from September 4 to 7 and Wales Comic-Con on September 27.
He joins John Barrowman, James Marsters and other Torchwood cast at The Hub 3 convention in Birmingham, UK, from October 23 to 25, then he is at the Hurricane Who event in Orlando from October 30 to November 1 and New England Fan Experience in Boston from November 13 to 15. He ends the year by starring in panto, playing Prince Charming in Cinderella at Preston, UK, from December 18 to January 3.
Davies, Tennant on Vacating “Doctor Who”
The longest running science fiction series in television history, “Doctor Who,” is a beloved pop culture icon in its native U.K. Among U.S. viewers, however, coming out as a Whovian used to be a bit risky. Self-identified geeks once considered the classic series to be a little too geeky even for them.
BBC America, Russell T. Davies and David Tennant changed all that over the past few years — Tennant, especially. For three seasons the gregarious actor portrayed The Doctor with a combination of goofiness and gravitas, making him charismatic, sexy and at times even sinister. We believed it when centuries-old Doctor’s companions fell for him because, after all, we had too. Tennant and Davies’ recent Comic-Con appearance drove the fans into a frenzy.
That’s why the news that Tennant’s run on “Doctor Who” would be coming to an end made our hearts ache a little. The journey for his incarnation of The Doctor is already in the process of ending. “Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead” had its BBC America premiere last Sunday. The next special, “The Waters of Mars,” arrives in the fall and enlists a new companion named Adelaide (Lindsay Duncan, familiar to “Rome” fans as Servilia of the Junii). Tennant’s final special arrives at what would otherwise be the most wonderful time of the year, Christmas. Davies confirmed that it’s called “The End of Time,” and it will be at least an hour and a half, maybe more, with commercials.
The decision to leave wasn’t easy for Tennant but, as he explained to critics on Wednesday, “I like the fact that I stand a chance of leaving an audience and myself wanting more rather than people asking when I’ve leaving.”
For the record, Davies announced he’d be handing the reins off to Steven Moffat in May 2008, before Tennant decided it was time for him to go — he hit us with that news last October.
The actor described the feeling of abandoning the role that brought him such love and acclaim in both the U.K. and the states as both very exciting, and very sad. “It’s thrilling to be handing over the show in such good health, actually…we’ve all come on this journey together, and it feels like we’re coming to the end of something very special.”
As do we.
Davies explains the arc for Tennant’s final four specials in a note on BBC America’s site: “The mysterious Ood have told him that his song is ending soon; something deadly is waiting on Mars; Donna’s grandfather, Wilf, is experiencing strange visions; and a powerful psychic warns the Doctor that “He will knock four times…” The end is coming. But will the Doctor, and the human race, survive?”
Understandably, this Doctor isn’t ready for his number to be up. “I think this Doctor likes being this Doctor,” Tennant explained. “And I think he’s raging against the dying of the light…He knows the sands of time are running out. He’s been told. And the bell is tolling for him, and he doesn’t want to go quietly.”
Up next for Tennant is a television version of “Hamlet.” He’s also in the midst of shooting a film called “St. Trinians 2.”
The next Doctor, 26-year-old Matt Smith, is a relative newcomer and the youngest of all the actors to play the last Time Lord. Karen Gillan was recently unveiled as his new companion. The first of their adventures will premiere in spring 2010.
BBC America, Russell T. Davies and David Tennant changed all that over the past few years — Tennant, especially. For three seasons the gregarious actor portrayed The Doctor with a combination of goofiness and gravitas, making him charismatic, sexy and at times even sinister. We believed it when centuries-old Doctor’s companions fell for him because, after all, we had too. Tennant and Davies’ recent Comic-Con appearance drove the fans into a frenzy.
That’s why the news that Tennant’s run on “Doctor Who” would be coming to an end made our hearts ache a little. The journey for his incarnation of The Doctor is already in the process of ending. “Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead” had its BBC America premiere last Sunday. The next special, “The Waters of Mars,” arrives in the fall and enlists a new companion named Adelaide (Lindsay Duncan, familiar to “Rome” fans as Servilia of the Junii). Tennant’s final special arrives at what would otherwise be the most wonderful time of the year, Christmas. Davies confirmed that it’s called “The End of Time,” and it will be at least an hour and a half, maybe more, with commercials.
The decision to leave wasn’t easy for Tennant but, as he explained to critics on Wednesday, “I like the fact that I stand a chance of leaving an audience and myself wanting more rather than people asking when I’ve leaving.”
For the record, Davies announced he’d be handing the reins off to Steven Moffat in May 2008, before Tennant decided it was time for him to go — he hit us with that news last October.
The actor described the feeling of abandoning the role that brought him such love and acclaim in both the U.K. and the states as both very exciting, and very sad. “It’s thrilling to be handing over the show in such good health, actually…we’ve all come on this journey together, and it feels like we’re coming to the end of something very special.”
As do we.
Davies explains the arc for Tennant’s final four specials in a note on BBC America’s site: “The mysterious Ood have told him that his song is ending soon; something deadly is waiting on Mars; Donna’s grandfather, Wilf, is experiencing strange visions; and a powerful psychic warns the Doctor that “He will knock four times…” The end is coming. But will the Doctor, and the human race, survive?”
Understandably, this Doctor isn’t ready for his number to be up. “I think this Doctor likes being this Doctor,” Tennant explained. “And I think he’s raging against the dying of the light…He knows the sands of time are running out. He’s been told. And the bell is tolling for him, and he doesn’t want to go quietly.”
Up next for Tennant is a television version of “Hamlet.” He’s also in the midst of shooting a film called “St. Trinians 2.”
The next Doctor, 26-year-old Matt Smith, is a relative newcomer and the youngest of all the actors to play the last Time Lord. Karen Gillan was recently unveiled as his new companion. The first of their adventures will premiere in spring 2010.
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Tom Baker at Invasion 2008
From Radiofreeskaro.com: In this clip, Tom Baker, the actor most identified with Doctor Who, tells the tale of a woman who rushed up to him on a train and confessed her undying love for him.
Tom Baker may return
Doctor Who legend Tom Baker has said he would be interested in taking part in a reunion show for Children In Need - but only if he was allowed to vet the script. Skip related content
There have been rumours that show bosses are planning a special edition reuniting all the surviving actors who have played the Time Lord, but the 75-year-old said he had not yet been approached about the idea.
Baked said: "They should actually try and do something like that and they should get a nice jolly script with them."
He added: "I don't know what it will be like and they haven't approached me yet and I'd want to have some say about the script."
Baker, who appeared in nearly 200 episodes of the show in the 1970s and 80s, said he was "amazed" at all the kissing done by the last Doctor, David Tennant, and thought the special effects were losing some of their impact.
He said: "I think it is quite difficult now to surprise an audience with special effects, you may please an audience, but visually you can't actually amaze an audience can you?
"In a sense you just watch them trying, but if people can appear and disappear and walk through walls and disappear and then carry on fencing or kissing girls, that amazes me.
"Of course they didn't do that in my days, and I don't want to be a reactionary old fart about that but in my days, it never occurred to me to try and kiss a girl."
There have been rumours that show bosses are planning a special edition reuniting all the surviving actors who have played the Time Lord, but the 75-year-old said he had not yet been approached about the idea.
Baked said: "They should actually try and do something like that and they should get a nice jolly script with them."
He added: "I don't know what it will be like and they haven't approached me yet and I'd want to have some say about the script."
Baker, who appeared in nearly 200 episodes of the show in the 1970s and 80s, said he was "amazed" at all the kissing done by the last Doctor, David Tennant, and thought the special effects were losing some of their impact.
He said: "I think it is quite difficult now to surprise an audience with special effects, you may please an audience, but visually you can't actually amaze an audience can you?
"In a sense you just watch them trying, but if people can appear and disappear and walk through walls and disappear and then carry on fencing or kissing girls, that amazes me.
"Of course they didn't do that in my days, and I don't want to be a reactionary old fart about that but in my days, it never occurred to me to try and kiss a girl."
Tennant Talks About Rose Tyler
David Tennant on why Rose Tyler is better off with the Doctor's clone than the real thing.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Dalton is the Narrator?
"He's playing a character called the Narrator, but you'll have to see more at Christmas for that," Davies said in a group interview following the press conference. "He's wonderful, that voice."
Davies would not confirm that Dalton would appear on screen, but enjoyed repeating that his character's name is the Narrator. Even choosing clips for the teaser was a debate.
"We argued over them long and hard, because there's an editor called Thomas back in BBC Cardiff who put those together," Davies said. "We went over them 27 times, every time saying, 'No, take that out. No, take that out.' Because I know science fiction fans are very clever. You can show them one character, and if he's hiding something in his hands, they will guess what it is. If he's hiding something, they will guess why he's hiding something, and therefore they'll guess what the entire plot is. I've seen them do that. So it's such a literate audience, all you really get in those Christmas clips are faces, to show you who is in it, because we daren't show any more."
Davies would not confirm that Dalton would appear on screen, but enjoyed repeating that his character's name is the Narrator. Even choosing clips for the teaser was a debate.
"We argued over them long and hard, because there's an editor called Thomas back in BBC Cardiff who put those together," Davies said. "We went over them 27 times, every time saying, 'No, take that out. No, take that out.' Because I know science fiction fans are very clever. You can show them one character, and if he's hiding something in his hands, they will guess what it is. If he's hiding something, they will guess why he's hiding something, and therefore they'll guess what the entire plot is. I've seen them do that. So it's such a literate audience, all you really get in those Christmas clips are faces, to show you who is in it, because we daren't show any more."
Last original Dalek operator dies
Michael Summerton, who died on June 16 aged 65, was an actor turned agent, and represented stars of soap operas and dance, among them Lesley Joseph, Hot Gossip and Arlene Phillips; he was also the last survivor of the original Daleks in Dr Who.
Read the rest here.
Read the rest here.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
A chat with Jonathan Ross and Tennants butt pics wow lol
Great interview and a great pic of DT for the fans go check it out:
Exclusive Chat with Jonathan Ross about Doctor Who
By Kate Kotler
Exclusive Chat with Jonathan Ross about Doctor Who
By Kate Kotler
"End of time" teaser SDCC cam
Not a good copy at all but all i can find at the moment
Slighty less jumpy closer cam version here. You can see Wilf, donna, sigma, the master, and lucy in the clip. gonna be epic!!! lol
Slighty less jumpy closer cam version here. You can see Wilf, donna, sigma, the master, and lucy in the clip. gonna be epic!!! lol
Details emerge about finale
If anyone wants to remain in the dark about the two specials which form the Tenth Doctor's finale, please look away now! Footage from the first of these episodes was screened during the Doctor Who panel at Comic-Con International, 2009, meaning details about the adventure are officially out there!
As we revealed earlier today, the episodes feature the return of John Simm as the Master. The Doctor's fellow Time Lord is sporting a different hair colour in the finale, working a striking, lighter look.
And the Master isn't the only familiar figure returning from Doctor Who's recent past. Executive Producer Russell T Davies, who wrote David Tennant's final episodes, confirmed that Alexandra Moen is back as Lucy Saxon, the character we previously saw in The Sound of Drums and The Last of the Time Lords. Although married to the Master she put a serious dent in their relationship by shooting him but what happened to her after the events of Series Three has remained a mystery, so far...
Russell further explained that footage from the finale screened at Comic-Con included the voice of Timothy Dalton as the Narrator. His exact role in the specials is currently undisclosed but Dalton is, of course, best known for portraying James Bond in The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill.
One of the biggest cheers of the Doctor Who panel occurred when the trailer showed the face of Catherine Tate, last seen playing Donna Noble in Journey's End. Bernard Cribbins, who played her grandfather, Wilf, also features in the trailer which depicts a grim-faced Doctor walking purposefully away from a wall of leaping flames... but towards what, or whom..?
As we revealed earlier today, the episodes feature the return of John Simm as the Master. The Doctor's fellow Time Lord is sporting a different hair colour in the finale, working a striking, lighter look.
And the Master isn't the only familiar figure returning from Doctor Who's recent past. Executive Producer Russell T Davies, who wrote David Tennant's final episodes, confirmed that Alexandra Moen is back as Lucy Saxon, the character we previously saw in The Sound of Drums and The Last of the Time Lords. Although married to the Master she put a serious dent in their relationship by shooting him but what happened to her after the events of Series Three has remained a mystery, so far...
Russell further explained that footage from the finale screened at Comic-Con included the voice of Timothy Dalton as the Narrator. His exact role in the specials is currently undisclosed but Dalton is, of course, best known for portraying James Bond in The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill.
One of the biggest cheers of the Doctor Who panel occurred when the trailer showed the face of Catherine Tate, last seen playing Donna Noble in Journey's End. Bernard Cribbins, who played her grandfather, Wilf, also features in the trailer which depicts a grim-faced Doctor walking purposefully away from a wall of leaping flames... but towards what, or whom..?
John Simm Returns for the Finale!
John Simm will return as the Master in the two special episodes which bring David Tennant's era as the Doctor to a stunning conclusion. There's been speculation about Simm's involvement with the show but we can confirm he'll be back later this year, once again playing the Doctor's deadly nemesis.
Simm first appeared as the Master in Utopia, The Sound of Drums and The Last of the Time Lords. All three episodes were written by Executive Producer and Head Writer Russell T Davies who also wrote his upcoming adventure.
The character debuted in 1971 and on-screen has faced all but the Second and Ninth Doctors. Davies' version of the Master saw him retain his wit and cunning but since Utopia he's been callous and charismatic, sick, psychotic and enormously likeable. In short, everyone's favourite megalomaniac.
At the close of Series Three we saw the Master gunned down by his wife and whilst lying in his enemy's arms, he refused to regenerate. The world believed he had died and the Doctor accepted he was the last of the Time Lords. But this is Doctor Who and you can't keep a good bad guy down!
We've yet to find out how he survived but we can promise we'll be bringing you an exclusive interview with John Simm and some brand new Master material later this year.
Simm first appeared as the Master in Utopia, The Sound of Drums and The Last of the Time Lords. All three episodes were written by Executive Producer and Head Writer Russell T Davies who also wrote his upcoming adventure.
The character debuted in 1971 and on-screen has faced all but the Second and Ninth Doctors. Davies' version of the Master saw him retain his wit and cunning but since Utopia he's been callous and charismatic, sick, psychotic and enormously likeable. In short, everyone's favourite megalomaniac.
At the close of Series Three we saw the Master gunned down by his wife and whilst lying in his enemy's arms, he refused to regenerate. The world believed he had died and the Doctor accepted he was the last of the Time Lords. But this is Doctor Who and you can't keep a good bad guy down!
We've yet to find out how he survived but we can promise we'll be bringing you an exclusive interview with John Simm and some brand new Master material later this year.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Doctor Who - Waters of Mars Comic Con 2009 Trailer
The brand new trailer for the Doctor Who 2009 special Waters of Mars starring David Tennant and Lindsay Duncan
I09 reports on Who finale
We saw two teaser trailers for David Tennant's very final episodes as the time-traveling hero of Doctor Who, and they revealed some dark times ahead for our Time Lord, including a menacing figure in a hoodie. Spoilers in the TARDIS!
First we saw a trailer for "Planet Of The Dead," the desert planet epic that premieres tonight at 8:00 on BBC America — complete and unedited.
We also saw a trailer for "Waters Of Mars," the following story, which looks to be considerably darker.
We see images of a Martian base, with lots of somewhat primitive Earth tech including flashing buttons. The base is sort of cross-shaped, with modules sticking out at various points. The Doctor says, "Certain moments in time are fixed. Everything else is in flux. Anything can happen. But there are certain moments that must stand." We see images of the people in the Mars base going about their business, and then the weird water zombie thing starts, with people turning into water and getting the scabby reptilian faces. "This time and place on Mars, what happens here, must not be changed," the Doctor adds. And then we see more of the watery monster panic. And then the Doctor, in a different scene, explains that whatever this thing is, it doesn't just hide in water — it creates water. And if the humans take it back to Earth, it's all over. "Any one of us could be infected," says a blonde woman. More scenes of chaos and havoc as the base starts to fall apart. And then the Doctor stands in his orange spacesuit (from "The Satan Pit") with flames behind him. In his most dramatic voice, he says to the blonde woman, "It doesn't end here and now — because I don't hear anyone knocking, do you?" And then there are four brutal, loud knocks. And the titles say "THE WATERS OF MARS."
And then there was the trailer for Tennant's final two-parter, which appears to be called "The End Of Time":
We see the planet Earth from space, with the sun coming out behind it, and Timothy Dalton's voice purrs: "It is said that in the final days of the planet Earth, everyone had bad dreams." And then we see weird laughing faces, followed by David Tennant looking quite perturbed. We see glimpses of Wilf, Donna, Donna's mother, and an African man in a suit, all looking very serious. And there's a scary snake-faced creature. And then there's a figure in a dark hoodie lurking ominously. Dalton narrates: "He returns." We catch a glimpse of Ood Sigma, the Ood who told the Doctor his song was ending. And then the Doctor standing in the background, with the guy in a hoodie in the foreground. And then the hoodie comes off, and it's John Simm with his hair weirdly bleached! His voice comes: "My name is the Master." And then a title comes on the screen: "THE END OF TIME." And the Doctor walks forward with flames in the background, his face looking smoky and serious. And the title says "CHRISTMAS 2009." And the crowd goes wild.
The Doctor Who panel was more fun than informative, as it really should be. David Tennant had a huge standing ovation, and people in the crowd were shouting "WE LOVE YOU!!" at regular intervals. At one point, Tennant responded "We love you too. Each one of you in a slightly different, individual way. We want you to know that."
Russell T. Davies did confirm that Lucy Saxton, the Master's long-suffering wife, will be back in the final episodes, alongside Simms. And the words "He will knock four times" have a great significance.
And Tennant alluded to something bad that happens to the Doctor's jacket in one of the last scenes he shot.
Someone asked David Tennant if the new Who is a reimagining of the old show, and he responded: "It's the same show and the story continues. I'm playing the same man tht William Hartnell was playing. I just have a slghtly different wig."
Someone from the Guinness Book Of World Records presented the show with an award for being the most successful science fiction show of all time, and Davies happily accepted, making jokes about Star Trek. ""Eat that, Supernatural!" He shouted, followed by "Eat me, Supernatural — oh I didn't really say that, did I?"
Someone mentioned that John Barrowman (who plays Captain Jack Harkness) talked about stealing a few items from the Doctor Who set, and asked if Tennant had taken anything as well. Executive producer Julie Gardner quipped, "I think John Barrowman just stole things off the set so he could be strip-searched."
Tennant only has one regret about leaving the show now: "The one thing I leave the show with a great sadness about is, I didn't get to snog Bernard Cribbins. I got to snog all the other ones."
And a fan asked if Professor River Song might come back at some point, and Davies and Gardner made it clear they have nothing to do with the episodes going out in 2010 and have no clue what'll happen. But Davies added: "I think if you go online and do a little search for River Song, you might be very happy."
First we saw a trailer for "Planet Of The Dead," the desert planet epic that premieres tonight at 8:00 on BBC America — complete and unedited.
We also saw a trailer for "Waters Of Mars," the following story, which looks to be considerably darker.
We see images of a Martian base, with lots of somewhat primitive Earth tech including flashing buttons. The base is sort of cross-shaped, with modules sticking out at various points. The Doctor says, "Certain moments in time are fixed. Everything else is in flux. Anything can happen. But there are certain moments that must stand." We see images of the people in the Mars base going about their business, and then the weird water zombie thing starts, with people turning into water and getting the scabby reptilian faces. "This time and place on Mars, what happens here, must not be changed," the Doctor adds. And then we see more of the watery monster panic. And then the Doctor, in a different scene, explains that whatever this thing is, it doesn't just hide in water — it creates water. And if the humans take it back to Earth, it's all over. "Any one of us could be infected," says a blonde woman. More scenes of chaos and havoc as the base starts to fall apart. And then the Doctor stands in his orange spacesuit (from "The Satan Pit") with flames behind him. In his most dramatic voice, he says to the blonde woman, "It doesn't end here and now — because I don't hear anyone knocking, do you?" And then there are four brutal, loud knocks. And the titles say "THE WATERS OF MARS."
And then there was the trailer for Tennant's final two-parter, which appears to be called "The End Of Time":
We see the planet Earth from space, with the sun coming out behind it, and Timothy Dalton's voice purrs: "It is said that in the final days of the planet Earth, everyone had bad dreams." And then we see weird laughing faces, followed by David Tennant looking quite perturbed. We see glimpses of Wilf, Donna, Donna's mother, and an African man in a suit, all looking very serious. And there's a scary snake-faced creature. And then there's a figure in a dark hoodie lurking ominously. Dalton narrates: "He returns." We catch a glimpse of Ood Sigma, the Ood who told the Doctor his song was ending. And then the Doctor standing in the background, with the guy in a hoodie in the foreground. And then the hoodie comes off, and it's John Simm with his hair weirdly bleached! His voice comes: "My name is the Master." And then a title comes on the screen: "THE END OF TIME." And the Doctor walks forward with flames in the background, his face looking smoky and serious. And the title says "CHRISTMAS 2009." And the crowd goes wild.
The Doctor Who panel was more fun than informative, as it really should be. David Tennant had a huge standing ovation, and people in the crowd were shouting "WE LOVE YOU!!" at regular intervals. At one point, Tennant responded "We love you too. Each one of you in a slightly different, individual way. We want you to know that."
Russell T. Davies did confirm that Lucy Saxton, the Master's long-suffering wife, will be back in the final episodes, alongside Simms. And the words "He will knock four times" have a great significance.
And Tennant alluded to something bad that happens to the Doctor's jacket in one of the last scenes he shot.
Someone asked David Tennant if the new Who is a reimagining of the old show, and he responded: "It's the same show and the story continues. I'm playing the same man tht William Hartnell was playing. I just have a slghtly different wig."
Someone from the Guinness Book Of World Records presented the show with an award for being the most successful science fiction show of all time, and Davies happily accepted, making jokes about Star Trek. ""Eat that, Supernatural!" He shouted, followed by "Eat me, Supernatural — oh I didn't really say that, did I?"
Someone mentioned that John Barrowman (who plays Captain Jack Harkness) talked about stealing a few items from the Doctor Who set, and asked if Tennant had taken anything as well. Executive producer Julie Gardner quipped, "I think John Barrowman just stole things off the set so he could be strip-searched."
Tennant only has one regret about leaving the show now: "The one thing I leave the show with a great sadness about is, I didn't get to snog Bernard Cribbins. I got to snog all the other ones."
And a fan asked if Professor River Song might come back at some point, and Davies and Gardner made it clear they have nothing to do with the episodes going out in 2010 and have no clue what'll happen. But Davies added: "I think if you go online and do a little search for River Song, you might be very happy."
RTD says FU to fans of Ianto, wow what an ass....
Backlash shmacklash. That's Torchwood creator Russell T. Davies' reaction to the outcry over the shocking death of Gareth David-Lloyd's much-loved Ianto in the BBC America miniseries Children of Earth. "It's not a backlash really," he scoffs. "It's just a few people posting online." Those few people may want to fasten their seat belts, 'cause the unapologetic Brit behind the original Queer as Folk also has some strong opinions about why Ianto had to die, what TV show pissed off fans should watch instead (hint: see headline above), and where Torchwood goes from here.
Question: Why'd you kill Ianto?
RUSSELL T. DAVIES: The threat to the world was just so great it simply would have been unlikely if everyone had survived. Torchwood is an adult show. We have killed off leading members of the cast before. Those have always been the stakes. Poor Ianto was defeated by a greater evil, I'm afraid.
Question: So this wasn't something that resulted from Gareth wanting to leave?
DAVIES: No, it was my decision.
Question: What do you make of the fan backlash?
DAVIES: It's not particularly a backlash. What's actually happening is, well, nothing really to be honest. It's a few people posting online and getting fans upset. Which is marvelous. It just goes to prove how much they love the character and the actor. People often say, 'Fans have got their knives out!' They haven't got any knives. I haven't been stabbed. Nothing's happened. It's simply a few people typing. I'm glad they're typing because they’re that involved. But if you can’t handle drama you shouldn’t watch it. Find something else. Go look at poetry. Poetry’s wonderful.
Question: Can you confirm that Ianto is, in fact, dead?
DAVIES: I’m afraid so. He’s a wonderful actor. I've worked with him before. I’m a big fan of his and I [look forward to] watching his career prosper. But death is death in this case. It would devalue the entire plot if we brought him back.
Question: But it's a risky thing to kill off such a popular character.
DAVIES: Absolutely. There’s a risk that some people won’t come back to watch now that Ianto’s gone. I thank them for watching the show and I recommend they go watch Supernatural, because those boys are beautiful. And don’t tell me they’re brothers. [Laughs] Not in my mind.
Question: One of my readers wondered if you were under pressure to de-gay Torchwood and that's why you killed him off.
DAVIES: I think you can forget about people picking up gay rights as an issue. It's rather like children picking up nursery blocks and waving them in the air but having no idea what it entails. We’re talking about issues in my entire life here, not just one small television program. If they did research they’d go and look at the history of gay and lesbian characters that I have put on screen. They should simply grow up, do some research, and stop riding on a bandwagon that they actually don’t know anything about.
Question: What was Gareth's reaction when you told him you were killing Ianto?
DAVIES: Oh, he’s a lovely, professional man. He completely understood. He’d seen two major characters disappear the year before. It’s a job. It’s a very straightforward process. He loved filming that great big death scene.
Question: With half the cast dead, where does Torchwood go from here?
DAVIES: We don’t yet know about our fourth series, but I’m fairly confident [it will continue] in some shape or form. I will just sit down and invent new stories and characters. That’s what I’ve spent my entire life doing. It’s not difficult at all. I could write the first 10 scenes in an episode right now.
Question: Will Jack continue to be the centerpiece?
DAVIES: Oh, I would think so. I would hope so. He’s absolutely fundamental to Torchwood.
Question: Do you think you'll stick to the miniseries format?
DAVIES: It’s hard to say. It’s been pretty successful. We were the number one show for five nights running [in the UK], which was amazing. Everything’s looking good, but it’s hard to say. We’re in a recession so no one gets easy money to make television. I like continuous story. I like doing new things. In many ways, Torchwood was designed as a digital weapon. It’s kind of multi-purpose, multi-adaptable, shape-shifting weapon that can become anything. I’m kind of excited what we’ll do next.
Question: What about a feature film?
DAVIES: Oh, God. Raising money for that would be harder than a television show. But anything is possible.
Question: Any hints about where the story will go next?
DAVIES: No, it’s literally too soon. I don’t know yet.
Question: Why'd you kill Ianto?
RUSSELL T. DAVIES: The threat to the world was just so great it simply would have been unlikely if everyone had survived. Torchwood is an adult show. We have killed off leading members of the cast before. Those have always been the stakes. Poor Ianto was defeated by a greater evil, I'm afraid.
Question: So this wasn't something that resulted from Gareth wanting to leave?
DAVIES: No, it was my decision.
Question: What do you make of the fan backlash?
DAVIES: It's not particularly a backlash. What's actually happening is, well, nothing really to be honest. It's a few people posting online and getting fans upset. Which is marvelous. It just goes to prove how much they love the character and the actor. People often say, 'Fans have got their knives out!' They haven't got any knives. I haven't been stabbed. Nothing's happened. It's simply a few people typing. I'm glad they're typing because they’re that involved. But if you can’t handle drama you shouldn’t watch it. Find something else. Go look at poetry. Poetry’s wonderful.
Question: Can you confirm that Ianto is, in fact, dead?
DAVIES: I’m afraid so. He’s a wonderful actor. I've worked with him before. I’m a big fan of his and I [look forward to] watching his career prosper. But death is death in this case. It would devalue the entire plot if we brought him back.
Question: But it's a risky thing to kill off such a popular character.
DAVIES: Absolutely. There’s a risk that some people won’t come back to watch now that Ianto’s gone. I thank them for watching the show and I recommend they go watch Supernatural, because those boys are beautiful. And don’t tell me they’re brothers. [Laughs] Not in my mind.
Question: One of my readers wondered if you were under pressure to de-gay Torchwood and that's why you killed him off.
DAVIES: I think you can forget about people picking up gay rights as an issue. It's rather like children picking up nursery blocks and waving them in the air but having no idea what it entails. We’re talking about issues in my entire life here, not just one small television program. If they did research they’d go and look at the history of gay and lesbian characters that I have put on screen. They should simply grow up, do some research, and stop riding on a bandwagon that they actually don’t know anything about.
Question: What was Gareth's reaction when you told him you were killing Ianto?
DAVIES: Oh, he’s a lovely, professional man. He completely understood. He’d seen two major characters disappear the year before. It’s a job. It’s a very straightforward process. He loved filming that great big death scene.
Question: With half the cast dead, where does Torchwood go from here?
DAVIES: We don’t yet know about our fourth series, but I’m fairly confident [it will continue] in some shape or form. I will just sit down and invent new stories and characters. That’s what I’ve spent my entire life doing. It’s not difficult at all. I could write the first 10 scenes in an episode right now.
Question: Will Jack continue to be the centerpiece?
DAVIES: Oh, I would think so. I would hope so. He’s absolutely fundamental to Torchwood.
Question: Do you think you'll stick to the miniseries format?
DAVIES: It’s hard to say. It’s been pretty successful. We were the number one show for five nights running [in the UK], which was amazing. Everything’s looking good, but it’s hard to say. We’re in a recession so no one gets easy money to make television. I like continuous story. I like doing new things. In many ways, Torchwood was designed as a digital weapon. It’s kind of multi-purpose, multi-adaptable, shape-shifting weapon that can become anything. I’m kind of excited what we’ll do next.
Question: What about a feature film?
DAVIES: Oh, God. Raising money for that would be harder than a television show. But anything is possible.
Question: Any hints about where the story will go next?
DAVIES: No, it’s literally too soon. I don’t know yet.
Ianto ‘memorial’ fund helps Children In Need
A FUND set up “in memory” of Torchwood character Ianto Jones has raised £1,800 for charity.
Fans around the world were dismayed when Ianto, a lead character in the sci-fi hit, met an untimely and unexpected demise in this month’s Children of Earth mini-series on BBC1.
A movement to save the character, played by Gareth David-Lloyd, began moments after he was killed off in the series and the resulting website – http://www.saveiantojones.com/ – has had more than 25,000 hits. It urges fans to send postcards and letters to series creator Russell T Davies and to the BBC.
The online donations had last night raised £1,865 for Children In Need. The website, www.justgiving.com/iantojones, says: “Though we, his devoted fans, still hope that he’ll come back (it’s still sci-fi and in sci-fi death can be reversed, can’t it?) we mourn him. In the series, he died saving the children of Earth so it seems fitting to honour his memory by helping the Children in Need.”
Fans around the world were dismayed when Ianto, a lead character in the sci-fi hit, met an untimely and unexpected demise in this month’s Children of Earth mini-series on BBC1.
A movement to save the character, played by Gareth David-Lloyd, began moments after he was killed off in the series and the resulting website – http://www.saveiantojones.com/ – has had more than 25,000 hits. It urges fans to send postcards and letters to series creator Russell T Davies and to the BBC.
The online donations had last night raised £1,865 for Children In Need. The website, www.justgiving.com/iantojones, says: “Though we, his devoted fans, still hope that he’ll come back (it’s still sci-fi and in sci-fi death can be reversed, can’t it?) we mourn him. In the series, he died saving the children of Earth so it seems fitting to honour his memory by helping the Children in Need.”
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Even more set pics
Unit? or some other agency?
Is this where river gets the handcuffs for future use??? hehehe
Monday, July 20, 2009
The Name's Pond. Amy Pond
Details are beginning to emerge about the next Doctor's companion, and the big news is she'll be called Amy Pond.
Back in May we revealed that the new companion will be played by 21 year old Karen Gillan, but until now her character's full name has been more carefully guarded than the Doctor's 'real' name! Amy will travel in the TARDIS alongside the new Doctor, played by Matt Smith, when the next series of Doctor Who begins in 2010.
Amy Pond is another memorable moniker from the new series Head Writer and Executive Producer, Steven Moffat, whose previous creations include Sally Sparrow and River Song. The latest photo which we revealed earlier today indicates Amy will have a laid back, contemporary look. So far we've had no suggestion as to whether we'll meet the new companion's family, or even if she has a family. But time will tell, and we'll be here to bring you Amy's story as it unfolds!
Back in May we revealed that the new companion will be played by 21 year old Karen Gillan, but until now her character's full name has been more carefully guarded than the Doctor's 'real' name! Amy will travel in the TARDIS alongside the new Doctor, played by Matt Smith, when the next series of Doctor Who begins in 2010.
Amy Pond is another memorable moniker from the new series Head Writer and Executive Producer, Steven Moffat, whose previous creations include Sally Sparrow and River Song. The latest photo which we revealed earlier today indicates Amy will have a laid back, contemporary look. So far we've had no suggestion as to whether we'll meet the new companion's family, or even if she has a family. But time will tell, and we'll be here to bring you Amy's story as it unfolds!
Tom Baker is to return as Doctor Who in five audio specials.
The 75-year-old actor - who played the Timelord on TV from 1974 to 1981, the longest so far of the 10 actors to take the role - will voice The Doctor for the BBC, following his adventures when he moves into a Sussex cottage in 2009 after leaving former companions Leela and metal dog K-9 on his home planet Gallifrey.
Writer Paul Magrs told The Sun: "I can picture the very moment he turned back into the Doctor - one minute it was introductions and actorly chat and then, all of a sudden, he was rehearsing lines.
He continued: "His first was, 'Hello, I'm the Doctor'. It was a very shivery moment."
The Doctor will be joined by companion UNIT's Captain Mike Yates, voiced by Richard Franklin, who played the role on the television show with Tom.
The episodes will also feature Mrs Wibbsey - voiced by Susan Jameson, of TV detective show New Tricks - as the Doctor's housekeeper.
The adventures, with series title Hornets' Nest, are due to air monthly from September 3 on BBC radio.
Writer Paul Magrs told The Sun: "I can picture the very moment he turned back into the Doctor - one minute it was introductions and actorly chat and then, all of a sudden, he was rehearsing lines.
He continued: "His first was, 'Hello, I'm the Doctor'. It was a very shivery moment."
The Doctor will be joined by companion UNIT's Captain Mike Yates, voiced by Richard Franklin, who played the role on the television show with Tom.
The episodes will also feature Mrs Wibbsey - voiced by Susan Jameson, of TV detective show New Tricks - as the Doctor's housekeeper.
The adventures, with series title Hornets' Nest, are due to air monthly from September 3 on BBC radio.
Matt Smith starts filming 'Doctor Who'
Filming on the new series of Doctor Who with Matt Smith has got underway in Cardiff.
The fifth series sees the newly-regenerated Doctor meet a new companion, Amy Pond, played by Scottish actress Karen Gillan.
"I feel very privileged and proud to be part of this iconic show," said Smith. "The scripts are brilliant and working alongside Karen, Steven and the rest of the crew is an inspiration because their work ethic and passion for the show is so admirable. I’m excited about the future and all the brilliant adventures I get to go on as the Doctor."
New showrunner Steven Moffat said: "And here it is, the big moment - the new Doctor, and his new best friend. And here's me, with the job I wanted since I was seven. 40 years to here! If I could go back in time and tell that little boy that one day all this would happen, he'd scream, call for his Mum and I'd be talking to you now from a prison cell in 1969. So probably best not then.
"Matt and Karen are going to be incredible, and Doctor Who is going to come alive on Saturday nights in a whole new way - and best of all, somewhere out there, a seven-year-old is going to see them, fall in love, and start making a forty year plan..."
Smith takes over from David Tennant in the iconic role at the end of three specials, the last of which airs early in 2010.
Filming on the 13-episode fifth series runs until March 2010 for broadcast next Spring.
source
Is River Song going to return in Smiths first run?
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Friday, July 17, 2009
Davies on atheism, American TV, and five decades of Doctor Who
Source
Consider the crushing dearth of fun in the Star Wars prequels, and you'll have an idea of the success rate in reviving beloved sci-fi franchises. But, when Queer as Folk creator Russell T Davies (he added the "T" to his name, no punctuation) resurrected Doctor Who for the BBC in 2005, his sharp, funny take on the iconic time-traveler (played now by David Tennant) met with great acclaim. It soon spun off Torchwood, a show about a modern team of alien-fighters captained by the enigmatic, possibly immortal, certainly bisexual Jack Harkness (John Barrowman). Torchwood's third season airs as a five-night miniseries starting July 20 at 9 pm, while the one-hour Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead premieres July 26 at 8, both on BBC America. Both shows come out as DVDs on July 28. Davies, on the phone from Los Angeles, talked with me about atheism, American TV, and five decades of Doctor Who.
Why hasTorchwood been such a hit, while earlier attempts to launch Doctor Who in the states failed?
I wish I knew. I think there's a little bit of resistance to Doctor Who in America, because there's such an ancient history of the show. They either think it's a repeat from the '70s or that they have to have watched it all the way from the '70s to follow what's going on, which isn't true of the modern show at all. You can pick it up from scratch. We were able to make Doctor Who work in Britain partly by trading off that nostalgia, but also by rejecting it and getting a brand new audience in.
From what I can gather — I haven't been to many conventions and I don't really go online and read fan stuff because that way lies madness — the sexuality of Torchwood seems to get quite a buzz. I certainly knew from Queer as Folk that gay male stories attract a lot of women viewers. There's a side of that in Torchwood, and Captain Jack having a relationship with the second-in-command. There's a bit of a buzz about that. I don't mean in a prurient way. There's just a fun lightness and enjoyment of it.
How much of what we see inTorchwood about the randomness of existence is your worldview?
A lot. The only way I can write — whether that's good or bad — is to put my worldview into everything. I have to challenge that worldview from time to time, but in terms of the atheism of the show, I find that very powerful. When you come to episode five of this year's Torchwood, you'll really see my worldview coming out very strongly and in a very dark way. It's about how thin life is, how we've got a nice, Western world of comforts, hot water, television, phones, and food, and we think we're much more civilized than the rest of the world but actually that could just snap tomorrow.
Why is it that secret agencies in American movies likeMen In Blackhave billion-dollar budgets, while Torchwood has five employees?
I think you've hit something there. Maybe that's why an American would find the show interesting. There's a fundamental difference between British and American television, it seems to me. This is a great generalization, but as a whole, American television is aspirational, where British television looks towards the working class. If you're on British television, you're more likely to have lead characters who are unemployed or shop workers. Maybe on American television, they're more likely to be running the shop. I admire American television for being aspirational. There's a slight guilt and complex and persecution culture in Britain about moving away from it. In British television, our evening soap operas are all entirely working class, and that's been the dominant voice for 40 years. We're stuck with it. We need to move on. It shouldn't be the only voice. There's a huge contingent of British writers who'll say you sold out and betrayed the whole profession of writing by not writing about the working class, which I find extraordinary and laughable. Nevertheless, perhaps that's where Torchwood's interest comes from. They're a strange little bunch of people living in a sewer.
Doctor Who has been around since 1963. Is there a giant board used to keep track of all the continuity?
The great thing is that there isn't and never has been. That's the most extraordinary part of the history of Doctor Who. Every three or four years, the production team would change. Every few years, the doctor would change. So we'd have this fantastically ramshackle, jammed-together continuity. As a long-term dyed-in-the-wool Doctor Who fan, I'm the historian; I know every single episode ever made. And I love all that, and I'm very respectful towards it, but I have to say, I'd throw all that out for the sake of a good idea
New companion to be scottish?
{From the Mirror so take it with a grain of ye olde salt lol}
The new Doctor Who's companion is going to be called Amy and (drumroll, please) she'll have a Scottish accent!
Played by the lovely Karen Gillan, Amy will be assisting David Tennant's successor Matt Smith - who I reckon is going to be fantastic as the new Time Lord.
Rumours abound that there'll be some hot chemistry between them, just as there was with Rose and David's Doctor.
Steven Moffat, who's taking over from Russell T Davies as the show's boss, is a huge fan of the 21-year-old. He says she's "funny and clever and gorgeous and sexy.
"Or Scottish, which is the quick way of saying it." (He is, too.)
My on-set spy whispers: "Karen's Scottish so it seems reasonable she keeps her accent, even though David didn't."
The first picture of the pair in time-travelling regalia will be revealed on Tuesday... because filming on the new series starts on Monday.
The new Doctor Who's companion is going to be called Amy and (drumroll, please) she'll have a Scottish accent!
Played by the lovely Karen Gillan, Amy will be assisting David Tennant's successor Matt Smith - who I reckon is going to be fantastic as the new Time Lord.
Rumours abound that there'll be some hot chemistry between them, just as there was with Rose and David's Doctor.
Steven Moffat, who's taking over from Russell T Davies as the show's boss, is a huge fan of the 21-year-old. He says she's "funny and clever and gorgeous and sexy.
"Or Scottish, which is the quick way of saying it." (He is, too.)
My on-set spy whispers: "Karen's Scottish so it seems reasonable she keeps her accent, even though David didn't."
The first picture of the pair in time-travelling regalia will be revealed on Tuesday... because filming on the new series starts on Monday.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Teagan to return in season 5 of Who?
I was sent an email that detailed that at the Bad Wolf convention in Birmingham Janet Fielding (Tegan Jovanka) announced that she'll be appearing in season 5. God that would so rock!!!
RTD is moving to America?
DOCTOR WHO writer Russell T Davies, regarded by many as the country’s best TV dramatist, has rocked BBC executives by announcing that he is leaving for the US.
The move is a major blow because, as well as revitalising Doctor Who, Davies created two popular spin-offs,Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures.
Torchwood, starring Eve Myles, shifted to BBC1 from BBC2 last week, clocking up huge audiences.
But there is now uncertainty over its future with its creator relocating to Hollywood.
Davies said of his move: “I haven’t planned anything, all my furniture is now there and I’m just going to start writing.
“It will take years to get anything made out there. It’s going to be difficult, so new and so brilliant. I will learn from people and bring it back here one day. It’s a big adventure and a lot of fun.”
Asked about the future of Torchwood, a BBC spokeswoman said: “It’s his show but it’s too early to say whether it will return. We will look closely at all of the ratings.”
Budget cuts are forcing cancellations across the channels.
Family dramas have been worst hit, with ITV’s Primeval and Demons disappearing, along with BBC1’s Robin Hood.
BBC drama is also facing problems over its decision to cancel Judge John Deed. Martin Shaw, the star of the popular courtroom drama which has been officially axed by BBC bosses, is calling for a public campaign to bring it back.
He said: “The BBC have said that they’re not interested in making more Judge John Deed. They might change their minds but we don’t know where their minds are. I fail to understand their reasoning and why nobody’s questioning it. Maybe the public should ask or at least say, ‘Why not?’
The move is a major blow because, as well as revitalising Doctor Who, Davies created two popular spin-offs,Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures.
Torchwood, starring Eve Myles, shifted to BBC1 from BBC2 last week, clocking up huge audiences.
But there is now uncertainty over its future with its creator relocating to Hollywood.
Davies said of his move: “I haven’t planned anything, all my furniture is now there and I’m just going to start writing.
“It will take years to get anything made out there. It’s going to be difficult, so new and so brilliant. I will learn from people and bring it back here one day. It’s a big adventure and a lot of fun.”
Asked about the future of Torchwood, a BBC spokeswoman said: “It’s his show but it’s too early to say whether it will return. We will look closely at all of the ratings.”
Budget cuts are forcing cancellations across the channels.
Family dramas have been worst hit, with ITV’s Primeval and Demons disappearing, along with BBC1’s Robin Hood.
BBC drama is also facing problems over its decision to cancel Judge John Deed. Martin Shaw, the star of the popular courtroom drama which has been officially axed by BBC bosses, is calling for a public campaign to bring it back.
He said: “The BBC have said that they’re not interested in making more Judge John Deed. They might change their minds but we don’t know where their minds are. I fail to understand their reasoning and why nobody’s questioning it. Maybe the public should ask or at least say, ‘Why not?’
DT in SJA - press release
The BBC press office have released info on the David Tennant's appearance as the Doctor in the Sarah Jane Adventures, and it looks exciting!
Doctor Who fans are in for a treat this Autumn as David Tennant makes a special appearance as The Doctor in CBBC's hit drama series The Sarah Jane Adventures with a starring role across two episodes.
Elisabeth Sladen, who plays Sarah Jane, says: "When I heard the news that David was going to be joining us I was absolutely over the moon. Not only has it made my day but it will also make the viewers' day.
"It's fantastic news that Sarah Jane is going to spend some time working with The Doctor again and is testament to just how successful this CBBC series is."
RTD, Executive Producer of The Sarah Jane Adventures, adds: "Viewers thought they may have to wait until November for the next full episode of Doctor Who, but this is an extra special treat.
"And it's not just a cameo from David – this is a full-on appearance for The Doctor as he and Sarah Jane face their biggest threat ever."
The series includes 12 weeks of brand new adventures featuring a new alien race, the reptilian Veil and their enemies the Judoon, alongside an extraterrestrial girl that can make people play games against their will.
There will also be a living painting, the inhabitants of a supposedly haunted house, monsters who want to infect Earth with a strangely aggressive weed and a chance for Sarah Jane to find personal happiness with someone who could be the perfect person to complete her family.
Doctor Who fans are in for a treat this Autumn as David Tennant makes a special appearance as The Doctor in CBBC's hit drama series The Sarah Jane Adventures with a starring role across two episodes.
Elisabeth Sladen, who plays Sarah Jane, says: "When I heard the news that David was going to be joining us I was absolutely over the moon. Not only has it made my day but it will also make the viewers' day.
"It's fantastic news that Sarah Jane is going to spend some time working with The Doctor again and is testament to just how successful this CBBC series is."
RTD, Executive Producer of The Sarah Jane Adventures, adds: "Viewers thought they may have to wait until November for the next full episode of Doctor Who, but this is an extra special treat.
"And it's not just a cameo from David – this is a full-on appearance for The Doctor as he and Sarah Jane face their biggest threat ever."
The series includes 12 weeks of brand new adventures featuring a new alien race, the reptilian Veil and their enemies the Judoon, alongside an extraterrestrial girl that can make people play games against their will.
There will also be a living painting, the inhabitants of a supposedly haunted house, monsters who want to infect Earth with a strangely aggressive weed and a chance for Sarah Jane to find personal happiness with someone who could be the perfect person to complete her family.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Is this Jack's daughter alice?
Whom ever emailed me this pic please send info of who and what it is I'm seeing. General spoiler news says Jack will find some of his family in this run and if so is this her?
Russell T Davies: Torchwood Touches a Nerve
We are coming.”
If you’ve been watching BBC America, you’ve seen the promos for Torchwood: Children of Earth. That chilling voice over — Jack, Gwen and Ianto in a panic state. All those dead eyes staring back at you! It’s Torchwood’s creepiest monsters ever — kids!
“They just touch a nerve,” says Torchwood creator Russell T. Davies. “A threat to our children gets a primal reaction out of all of us. But beyond that, I think we can be scared of our kids, too. That they can seem unknowable, unreachable - that’s why a gang of young hoodies can seem more unnerving than an adult gang of thugs.”
It’s a story Davies has been wanting to tell for ages and finally he was given the opportunity when the BBC agreed to a five-part Torchwood mini-series instead of the normal run.
“Underneath the sci-fi and the aliens, there’s something very relevant to the world, I hope. The way we sit in the west, and watch footage of atrocities in different countries, and imagine it’s all so far away, and so impossible here. Which is a nice, comfy lie we tell ourselves. That was the heart of it. I wanted to tell a story in which civilization snaps, in which we turn on ourselves, in which nothing is safe. Plenty of people live like that, on this planet. In this story, it’s Britain’s turn.”
But writing an epic five-part mini wasn’t an easy job, even for a pro like Davies.
“I loved it, because it was a huge challenge. Lots of thrillers are written by just one writer, but we had three, across five episodes. Which meant a lot of emailing and late-night phone calls. But we really worked as a team, all locked in one room to thrash out the storyline and create the characters, and that’s my favorite way of working. We also had the Producer and Director inside the Writer’s Room, right from the very start, which is a very unusual way of working in this country, but with huge results - it meant we were all focused, we all knew the tone and the ambition of the piece, and we all aimed in the same direction.
“The size of this story, and the scale of it - spread across more than 40 years of history - means that we needed something bigger, a threat with real intelligence, a race with different protocols and standards. Some of my favorite material comes from Episode Three, where we have to see the government engage in genuine diplomatic relations with an alien species. You watch those scenes thinking, ‘That’s what it would really be like.’”
Aliens, massive destruction of a city, 40 years of history — all well and good, but what about the characters we’ve come to know and love?
Says Davies, “This whole story tears Torchwood down, and then watches them rebuild, but always questioning them, asking what sort of heroes they are, how far will they go? And what’s the difference between a freedom fighter and a terrorist? At the same time, we get to know Jack, Gwen and Ianto more intimately than we ever have before - exploring their families, their history, their hopes and loves. And their failings, too. As the alien threat gets bigger, so Torchwood’s humanity is exposed, and threatened, and celebrated too. And their lives are on the line, none of them is safe!”
As for the relationship between Capt Jack and Ianto . . .?
“It just grew naturally out of the scripts and performances from John and Gareth. And it’s such a rich area - the sheer will-they-or-won’t-they tension of two men getting closer. But again, you can come to Torchwood as a new viewer and follow their relationship from the start, you won’t get lost. And it’s honestly a pleasure to write for two such fine actors, they make the whole process a delight.”
In addition to the usual suspects, Torchwood: Children of Earth has several scene-stealing guest stars.
“We’ve got great new talent, like Cush Jumbo as Lois - the innocent secretary who discovers state secrets on her computer - and wonderful stars such as Peter Capaldi, who makes his character of John Frobisher so detailed and so nuanced, and so heartbreaking in the end. Add to that, Susan Brown as Bridget Spears - keep an eye on her, she’s a slow burn - and Nicholas Farrell as the most clever and manipulative Prime Minister you could imagine. And then Liz May Brice as a truly ruthless assassin! We’ve also got Paul Copley as Clem, a character holding so many secrets from the past - Paul’s simply astonishing to work with. And then the greatest enigma of the whole series is Lucy Cohu, playing Alice, who’s no less than Captain Jack’s daughter… What a mix! Best cast I could have imagined!”
If you haven’t been a loyal Torchwood watcher before now, you can still plan to sit down and enjoy this special presentation. Says Davies, “There are fleeting references to the past, but from the moment it starts, we’re telling a brand new story. It’s been deliberately written so that no one will be lost - and at the same time, the faithful viewer will discover so much more about the members of the Torchwood team. There are plenty of rewards for the long-term fan.”
Torchwood: Children of Earth will air on BBC America beginning Monday, July 20 and running straight through to Friday, July 24, 9:00 - 10:15 p.m. ET/PT. The previous night’s episode will encore at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.
If you’ve been watching BBC America, you’ve seen the promos for Torchwood: Children of Earth. That chilling voice over — Jack, Gwen and Ianto in a panic state. All those dead eyes staring back at you! It’s Torchwood’s creepiest monsters ever — kids!
“They just touch a nerve,” says Torchwood creator Russell T. Davies. “A threat to our children gets a primal reaction out of all of us. But beyond that, I think we can be scared of our kids, too. That they can seem unknowable, unreachable - that’s why a gang of young hoodies can seem more unnerving than an adult gang of thugs.”
It’s a story Davies has been wanting to tell for ages and finally he was given the opportunity when the BBC agreed to a five-part Torchwood mini-series instead of the normal run.
“Underneath the sci-fi and the aliens, there’s something very relevant to the world, I hope. The way we sit in the west, and watch footage of atrocities in different countries, and imagine it’s all so far away, and so impossible here. Which is a nice, comfy lie we tell ourselves. That was the heart of it. I wanted to tell a story in which civilization snaps, in which we turn on ourselves, in which nothing is safe. Plenty of people live like that, on this planet. In this story, it’s Britain’s turn.”
But writing an epic five-part mini wasn’t an easy job, even for a pro like Davies.
“I loved it, because it was a huge challenge. Lots of thrillers are written by just one writer, but we had three, across five episodes. Which meant a lot of emailing and late-night phone calls. But we really worked as a team, all locked in one room to thrash out the storyline and create the characters, and that’s my favorite way of working. We also had the Producer and Director inside the Writer’s Room, right from the very start, which is a very unusual way of working in this country, but with huge results - it meant we were all focused, we all knew the tone and the ambition of the piece, and we all aimed in the same direction.
“The size of this story, and the scale of it - spread across more than 40 years of history - means that we needed something bigger, a threat with real intelligence, a race with different protocols and standards. Some of my favorite material comes from Episode Three, where we have to see the government engage in genuine diplomatic relations with an alien species. You watch those scenes thinking, ‘That’s what it would really be like.’”
Aliens, massive destruction of a city, 40 years of history — all well and good, but what about the characters we’ve come to know and love?
Says Davies, “This whole story tears Torchwood down, and then watches them rebuild, but always questioning them, asking what sort of heroes they are, how far will they go? And what’s the difference between a freedom fighter and a terrorist? At the same time, we get to know Jack, Gwen and Ianto more intimately than we ever have before - exploring their families, their history, their hopes and loves. And their failings, too. As the alien threat gets bigger, so Torchwood’s humanity is exposed, and threatened, and celebrated too. And their lives are on the line, none of them is safe!”
As for the relationship between Capt Jack and Ianto . . .?
“It just grew naturally out of the scripts and performances from John and Gareth. And it’s such a rich area - the sheer will-they-or-won’t-they tension of two men getting closer. But again, you can come to Torchwood as a new viewer and follow their relationship from the start, you won’t get lost. And it’s honestly a pleasure to write for two such fine actors, they make the whole process a delight.”
In addition to the usual suspects, Torchwood: Children of Earth has several scene-stealing guest stars.
“We’ve got great new talent, like Cush Jumbo as Lois - the innocent secretary who discovers state secrets on her computer - and wonderful stars such as Peter Capaldi, who makes his character of John Frobisher so detailed and so nuanced, and so heartbreaking in the end. Add to that, Susan Brown as Bridget Spears - keep an eye on her, she’s a slow burn - and Nicholas Farrell as the most clever and manipulative Prime Minister you could imagine. And then Liz May Brice as a truly ruthless assassin! We’ve also got Paul Copley as Clem, a character holding so many secrets from the past - Paul’s simply astonishing to work with. And then the greatest enigma of the whole series is Lucy Cohu, playing Alice, who’s no less than Captain Jack’s daughter… What a mix! Best cast I could have imagined!”
If you haven’t been a loyal Torchwood watcher before now, you can still plan to sit down and enjoy this special presentation. Says Davies, “There are fleeting references to the past, but from the moment it starts, we’re telling a brand new story. It’s been deliberately written so that no one will be lost - and at the same time, the faithful viewer will discover so much more about the members of the Torchwood team. There are plenty of rewards for the long-term fan.”
Torchwood: Children of Earth will air on BBC America beginning Monday, July 20 and running straight through to Friday, July 24, 9:00 - 10:15 p.m. ET/PT. The previous night’s episode will encore at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Who is the greatest ever Doctor Who?
UKTV has a list they posted of the best of the best HERE, and i don't agree with all their choices at all. So im posting my own lol.
MY FAVORITE DOCTORS WORST TO BEST BWO style
-----------------------------------------------------
Colin Baker 1984-86
The Sixth Doctor was stubborn, arrogant and an ass who had no problem dishing out violence. Colins doctor tried to harken back to the attitude of the First Doctor but he failed miserably and came off to me as more a bully who liked to yell and bluster than a man of the first Doctors character.
Jon Pertwee 1970-74
The Third Doctor was an every man's Doctor who wanted to be more James Bond than Time Lord. His one line of "Reverse the polarity of the neutron flow" that was reapeated to death alone made me really hate to watch any of his Doctor. The best thing to come from this Doctors run: The Brig my friends...
Peter Davison 1982-84
Milksop has long been associated with this Doctor and i somewhat agree. He was emo before there was an emo to emo, you know? I fully expected him to break down in tears in almost every episode and considering the death toll in most of his episodes it was kind of understandable.
Paul McGann 1996
The Eighth Doctor, a Byronesque figure who is arguably the most human and romantic of all of his incarnations, encouraged those around him to seize life instead of withdrawing from it. He also seemed to enjoy giving people hints of their own futures, probably to prod them into making the right decisions. Not to mention Goth clothes and first companion kiss for the win lol
Christopher Eccleston 2005
Okay before you email me and threaten to take my whovian membership card, hear me out. I love love love absolutley love the ninth Doctor. I do i adore him. I thought he was fresh and new and just what the series needed to cause new interest and fan glee. But, theres always a but, he did not stay long enough. He was barely a blip on the Who timeline and if he had just regenerated into nine when he came upon Rose, the shortest incarnation of the Doctor so far. One more year at least would put him in my top three i promise. But as it stands Nine just wasn't with us long enough.
William Hartnell 1963-66
The first and foremost Doctor. The man was devious, cunning, cantankerous, patronising, caring, brave, and able to be selfish and selfless at the same time. How can you not like the daddy of all who? His love for his grand daughter made it clear he was not all that he seemed to be. He was the first rebel of the bunch and left Gallifrey because he was BORED. That rocks.
Patrick Troughton 1966-69
The cosmic hobo with his recorder and impish smile endeared me to Who the first time i saw him. Mercurial, clever, and always a few steps ahead of his enemies, at times he could be a calculating schemer who would not only manipulate people for the greater good but act like a bumbling fool in order to have others underestimate his true abilities. But despite the bluster and tendency to panic when events got out of control, the Second Doctor always acted heroically and morally in his desire to help the oppressed. More than any other perhaps, this incarnation of the Time Lord was a wolf in sheep's clothing. My greatest regret is his is the bulk of the missing Doctor Who episodes that we may never ever see.
Sylvester McCoy 1987-89
The Seventh Doctor was an enigma wrapped in a question filled with secrets.The Seventh Doctor started out as a comical character, playing the spoons, and making pratfalls, but soon started to develop a darker nature and raised the profound question of who the Doctor actually is and what all he has done in his long life, good and bad. Loved every single minute of Sylvesters Doctor, even tolerated mel {shudder} for his sake. And Ace ohhh i love love love me some ace professor.
Dave Tennant 2005-2009
The Tenth Doctor generally displays a light-hearted, talkative, easy-going, witty and cheeky manner, but combines this with a somewhat egocentric sense of unstoppability when facing his enemies. He is the sheik of geek and so emo it sometimes hurts, but i love the man and have been a big old Ten/Rose shipper from the start.
Tom Baker 1974-1981
We all have "Our Doctor" and four is mine. A friend turned me on to this series brodcast on PBS every saturday and made me a life long who fan from episode one,for me, Revenge of the cybermen. I watched them all with a geeky fanboy glee, here was an iconoclast free thinker handing out jelly babies and almost never having to raise a hand to an enemy because he was just too smart for that kind of thing. And Sarah Jane my my my i loved me some Sarah jane. No one has beat his record of seven years yet, he defined Who for several generations.
Agree with me or not feel free to list your favs in comments i will publish them all.
MY FAVORITE DOCTORS WORST TO BEST BWO style
-----------------------------------------------------
Colin Baker 1984-86
The Sixth Doctor was stubborn, arrogant and an ass who had no problem dishing out violence. Colins doctor tried to harken back to the attitude of the First Doctor but he failed miserably and came off to me as more a bully who liked to yell and bluster than a man of the first Doctors character.
Jon Pertwee 1970-74
The Third Doctor was an every man's Doctor who wanted to be more James Bond than Time Lord. His one line of "Reverse the polarity of the neutron flow" that was reapeated to death alone made me really hate to watch any of his Doctor. The best thing to come from this Doctors run: The Brig my friends...
Peter Davison 1982-84
Milksop has long been associated with this Doctor and i somewhat agree. He was emo before there was an emo to emo, you know? I fully expected him to break down in tears in almost every episode and considering the death toll in most of his episodes it was kind of understandable.
Paul McGann 1996
The Eighth Doctor, a Byronesque figure who is arguably the most human and romantic of all of his incarnations, encouraged those around him to seize life instead of withdrawing from it. He also seemed to enjoy giving people hints of their own futures, probably to prod them into making the right decisions. Not to mention Goth clothes and first companion kiss for the win lol
Christopher Eccleston 2005
Okay before you email me and threaten to take my whovian membership card, hear me out. I love love love absolutley love the ninth Doctor. I do i adore him. I thought he was fresh and new and just what the series needed to cause new interest and fan glee. But, theres always a but, he did not stay long enough. He was barely a blip on the Who timeline and if he had just regenerated into nine when he came upon Rose, the shortest incarnation of the Doctor so far. One more year at least would put him in my top three i promise. But as it stands Nine just wasn't with us long enough.
William Hartnell 1963-66
The first and foremost Doctor. The man was devious, cunning, cantankerous, patronising, caring, brave, and able to be selfish and selfless at the same time. How can you not like the daddy of all who? His love for his grand daughter made it clear he was not all that he seemed to be. He was the first rebel of the bunch and left Gallifrey because he was BORED. That rocks.
Patrick Troughton 1966-69
The cosmic hobo with his recorder and impish smile endeared me to Who the first time i saw him. Mercurial, clever, and always a few steps ahead of his enemies, at times he could be a calculating schemer who would not only manipulate people for the greater good but act like a bumbling fool in order to have others underestimate his true abilities. But despite the bluster and tendency to panic when events got out of control, the Second Doctor always acted heroically and morally in his desire to help the oppressed. More than any other perhaps, this incarnation of the Time Lord was a wolf in sheep's clothing. My greatest regret is his is the bulk of the missing Doctor Who episodes that we may never ever see.
Sylvester McCoy 1987-89
The Seventh Doctor was an enigma wrapped in a question filled with secrets.The Seventh Doctor started out as a comical character, playing the spoons, and making pratfalls, but soon started to develop a darker nature and raised the profound question of who the Doctor actually is and what all he has done in his long life, good and bad. Loved every single minute of Sylvesters Doctor, even tolerated mel {shudder} for his sake. And Ace ohhh i love love love me some ace professor.
Dave Tennant 2005-2009
The Tenth Doctor generally displays a light-hearted, talkative, easy-going, witty and cheeky manner, but combines this with a somewhat egocentric sense of unstoppability when facing his enemies. He is the sheik of geek and so emo it sometimes hurts, but i love the man and have been a big old Ten/Rose shipper from the start.
Tom Baker 1974-1981
We all have "Our Doctor" and four is mine. A friend turned me on to this series brodcast on PBS every saturday and made me a life long who fan from episode one,for me, Revenge of the cybermen. I watched them all with a geeky fanboy glee, here was an iconoclast free thinker handing out jelly babies and almost never having to raise a hand to an enemy because he was just too smart for that kind of thing. And Sarah Jane my my my i loved me some Sarah jane. No one has beat his record of seven years yet, he defined Who for several generations.
Agree with me or not feel free to list your favs in comments i will publish them all.
FOLLOW THROUGH
Not a big jack/martha shipper but i like the song and whats not to like about ANY video with Jack in it lol
Michelle Ryan Is The Doctor? (sort of)
Michelle Ryan is Doctor Who… and a whole load of other characters on the latest Original BBC Doctor Who Audiobook, “The Rising Night”.
We last saw the ex-EastEnder and Bionic Woman star as Lady Christina de Souza, flying off in her enhanced double decker in the Easter Doctor Who romp "Planet Of The Dead”. It’s fair to say that she made quite an impression, and the question she inevitably now gets asked is, “When is Lady Christina coming back?" Sadly, she tells us, “I suppose it's a possibility but there's nothing planned as yet. I like to keep my options open. I loved playing Lady Christina, she's one of my favourite characters, but I like to do lots of different things so, it depends really.”
So the next best thing is having Ryan narrate “The Rising Night”. It’s the latest release (due out on 9 July) ns a range from BBC Audio that kicked off last year with Pest Control. They’re not audio dramas, but books, except they’re not books because they come on audio CD. Lost? Think of it this way, they’re written in a narrative form like books, but instead of getting published as books, then being turned into audiobooks afterwards, they skip the middle man and go straight onto CD. Only in the wild and wacky world of Doctor Who, eh?
BBC Audio has been picking some star names from the series (including David Tennant and Freema Agyeman) to narrate these tales, and Ryan was more than happy to lend her voice to the range.
“There are some really interesting characters, and it was really fun to play lots of different parts,” she enthuses. “I had to impersonate David – that was the hardest thing. You need to have that energy behind it. The way his pauses are in different places. But it was really great fun. And I thought it was a really good script. That's what's good about Doctor Who. I think the writing is so good. Even though it's about time travel, it's still relevant to the modern day. People can still relate to the relationships and emotions in it.”
"The Rising Night”, written by Scott Handcock, is a historical romp, set in an 18th Century rural Yorkshire village where the sun hasn’t risen for three weeks. The Doctor joins up with local lass, Charity, to solve the mystery. Ryan found playing so many different characters an interesting challenge.
“With Charity I kept her very much how I sound. But then they had another character, a temptress, witchlike character – and I got to go quite flamboyant with her; quite sort of breathy, slightly channelling Joanna Lumley. With all the other town folk I got to do all sort of different accents.
“You can't really prepare. You're the narrator but you're also playing these different characters. The challenge is constantly keeping the energy up; keeping the mood up. Sometimes you have top go from being quite energetic and frenetic and then slowing it right down for the next character. I remember listening to Roald Dahl audio books when I was a kid, and there's something special about the narrator and how they tell the story; if they capture it right, then it's so interesting to listen to. I hope I’ve captured it right. But I'm glad I've done it. It gets you thinking - having to switch between different characters, pretty much improvising it as you're going along.”
A SF and fantasy fan herself, Ryan especially loves "dark comics, like The Watchmen. The ones set in the ’30s and ’40s where the women are like Jessica Rabbit style femme fatales, and you've got guys in their cool hats. It's all dark and edgy and everyone seems to smoke.”
She also names the mind-bending anime Ghost In The Shell II: Innocence as one her favourite film experiences: “I have to say that's one of the most phenomenal films I've ever seen, with all the references to literature and all the quotes. Visually it's so stunning. I thought it was like a Japanese Blade Runner. The music was fantastic as well. There’s a song on the soundtrack, Follow Me, which is one of my favourite songs.”
Recently, of course, we also seen her in the BBC’s Merlin as Nimueh (another character which there are no immediate plans for bringing back, she reveals – "I died, didn’t I?” she muses, "but in fantasy I suppose there’s always the chance of a revival.”) But SFX wondered if they made the same joke on set about her name as we did in the office – did everyone start singing “Nim-a-way, Nim-a-way, Nim-a-way, Nim-a-way…”?
“Er…”
You know, to the tune of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight?
“Er…”
Oh well, just us then.
We last saw the ex-EastEnder and Bionic Woman star as Lady Christina de Souza, flying off in her enhanced double decker in the Easter Doctor Who romp "Planet Of The Dead”. It’s fair to say that she made quite an impression, and the question she inevitably now gets asked is, “When is Lady Christina coming back?" Sadly, she tells us, “I suppose it's a possibility but there's nothing planned as yet. I like to keep my options open. I loved playing Lady Christina, she's one of my favourite characters, but I like to do lots of different things so, it depends really.”
So the next best thing is having Ryan narrate “The Rising Night”. It’s the latest release (due out on 9 July) ns a range from BBC Audio that kicked off last year with Pest Control. They’re not audio dramas, but books, except they’re not books because they come on audio CD. Lost? Think of it this way, they’re written in a narrative form like books, but instead of getting published as books, then being turned into audiobooks afterwards, they skip the middle man and go straight onto CD. Only in the wild and wacky world of Doctor Who, eh?
BBC Audio has been picking some star names from the series (including David Tennant and Freema Agyeman) to narrate these tales, and Ryan was more than happy to lend her voice to the range.
“There are some really interesting characters, and it was really fun to play lots of different parts,” she enthuses. “I had to impersonate David – that was the hardest thing. You need to have that energy behind it. The way his pauses are in different places. But it was really great fun. And I thought it was a really good script. That's what's good about Doctor Who. I think the writing is so good. Even though it's about time travel, it's still relevant to the modern day. People can still relate to the relationships and emotions in it.”
"The Rising Night”, written by Scott Handcock, is a historical romp, set in an 18th Century rural Yorkshire village where the sun hasn’t risen for three weeks. The Doctor joins up with local lass, Charity, to solve the mystery. Ryan found playing so many different characters an interesting challenge.
“With Charity I kept her very much how I sound. But then they had another character, a temptress, witchlike character – and I got to go quite flamboyant with her; quite sort of breathy, slightly channelling Joanna Lumley. With all the other town folk I got to do all sort of different accents.
“You can't really prepare. You're the narrator but you're also playing these different characters. The challenge is constantly keeping the energy up; keeping the mood up. Sometimes you have top go from being quite energetic and frenetic and then slowing it right down for the next character. I remember listening to Roald Dahl audio books when I was a kid, and there's something special about the narrator and how they tell the story; if they capture it right, then it's so interesting to listen to. I hope I’ve captured it right. But I'm glad I've done it. It gets you thinking - having to switch between different characters, pretty much improvising it as you're going along.”
A SF and fantasy fan herself, Ryan especially loves "dark comics, like The Watchmen. The ones set in the ’30s and ’40s where the women are like Jessica Rabbit style femme fatales, and you've got guys in their cool hats. It's all dark and edgy and everyone seems to smoke.”
She also names the mind-bending anime Ghost In The Shell II: Innocence as one her favourite film experiences: “I have to say that's one of the most phenomenal films I've ever seen, with all the references to literature and all the quotes. Visually it's so stunning. I thought it was like a Japanese Blade Runner. The music was fantastic as well. There’s a song on the soundtrack, Follow Me, which is one of my favourite songs.”
Recently, of course, we also seen her in the BBC’s Merlin as Nimueh (another character which there are no immediate plans for bringing back, she reveals – "I died, didn’t I?” she muses, "but in fantasy I suppose there’s always the chance of a revival.”) But SFX wondered if they made the same joke on set about her name as we did in the office – did everyone start singing “Nim-a-way, Nim-a-way, Nim-a-way, Nim-a-way…”?
“Er…”
You know, to the tune of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight?
“Er…”
Oh well, just us then.
Torchwood cut 'like punishment'
Cutting the new series of Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood to five shows from 13 felt like "we were being punished", its star John Barrowman has said.
The third series of the sci-fi show - which began on BBC Three before moving to BBC Two - will now be shown on consecutive days on BBC One.
Barrowman said other shows moved to BBC One "and they don't get cut".
The BBC said it wanted to create "a powerful sense of event" with Children of Earth, which will start on Monday.
Barrowman told the Radio Times: "I'm going to get a little political and I'll probably get into trouble for it."
He said Torchwood's first series had been "the most successful show on BBC3 - ever" and, as a result, had been moved to BBC Two where "we were beating shows that had been on BBC Two for a long time".
"The decision was made to go to BBC One and then we were cut - from 13 episodes down to five."
'Very special'
Barrowman said the new episodes were "incredible, I have no doubt about that".
"But personally, I felt like we were being punished.
"Other shows move from BBC Three and Two to One and they don't get cut.
"So why are we? It felt like every time we moved we had to prove ourselves."
But the show's writer and creator Russell T Davies told the magazine: "Part of us thought, 'we could do another 13 episodes, we've learnt how to do that, and the second series was better than the first'.
"But why not change it?"
He said if the show was made in the US, "they'd try to keep it going for seven years, doing the same thing every week".
He added: "It's the British audience we make these for.
"And I don't think audiences are remotely lost by a change in format."
A BBC spokesman said: "We wanted to create a powerful sense of event when the show came to BBC One and so talked with the show makers about a story that could run over five consecutive days."
This was something "very special" that had only been done before with 2008's five-part thriller Criminal Justice and Iraq-based drama Occupation, shown earlier this month.
Torchwood: Children Of Earth follows the alien-chasing team as they battle for the future of the human race against the fiercest force they have encountered
The third series of the sci-fi show - which began on BBC Three before moving to BBC Two - will now be shown on consecutive days on BBC One.
Barrowman said other shows moved to BBC One "and they don't get cut".
The BBC said it wanted to create "a powerful sense of event" with Children of Earth, which will start on Monday.
Barrowman told the Radio Times: "I'm going to get a little political and I'll probably get into trouble for it."
He said Torchwood's first series had been "the most successful show on BBC3 - ever" and, as a result, had been moved to BBC Two where "we were beating shows that had been on BBC Two for a long time".
"The decision was made to go to BBC One and then we were cut - from 13 episodes down to five."
'Very special'
Barrowman said the new episodes were "incredible, I have no doubt about that".
"But personally, I felt like we were being punished.
"Other shows move from BBC Three and Two to One and they don't get cut.
"So why are we? It felt like every time we moved we had to prove ourselves."
But the show's writer and creator Russell T Davies told the magazine: "Part of us thought, 'we could do another 13 episodes, we've learnt how to do that, and the second series was better than the first'.
"But why not change it?"
He said if the show was made in the US, "they'd try to keep it going for seven years, doing the same thing every week".
He added: "It's the British audience we make these for.
"And I don't think audiences are remotely lost by a change in format."
A BBC spokesman said: "We wanted to create a powerful sense of event when the show came to BBC One and so talked with the show makers about a story that could run over five consecutive days."
This was something "very special" that had only been done before with 2008's five-part thriller Criminal Justice and Iraq-based drama Occupation, shown earlier this month.
Torchwood: Children Of Earth follows the alien-chasing team as they battle for the future of the human race against the fiercest force they have encountered
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Doctor united??? noooooooo damn.
I came home to joy in my mailbox when i read the title of an email sent to me by a friend at the link below!!! I was skeptical as ever when i saw it was from the Mirror.
Doctor Who exclusive: All 11 timelords to unite for mission?
Only to have my hopes dashed a moment later when i read on DS it was all hot air :(
BBC denies 'Doctor Who' reunion reports
The BBC has denied speculation of an "all-Doctors reunion" for this year's Children In Need.
The Mirror claimed that all ten incarnations of The Doctor would appear together in a 15-minute episode to be shown as part of the annual telethon in November.
The special would see David Tennant's Doctor calling on his nine predecessors to help him find a missing piece of Time Lord apparatus. The actors who portrayed the first three Doctors - William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee - are all deceased but would be represented by archive footage.
The report also claimed that the special would mark the first appearance of Matt Smith as the Doctor, although Smith is not due to take over from Tennant in the titular role until early 2010.
A spokesman told the newspaper: "Nothing has been finalised yet, although there is discussion of a Children in Need Doctor Who special. It is too early to say what."
Doctor Who exclusive: All 11 timelords to unite for mission?
Only to have my hopes dashed a moment later when i read on DS it was all hot air :(
BBC denies 'Doctor Who' reunion reports
The BBC has denied speculation of an "all-Doctors reunion" for this year's Children In Need.
The Mirror claimed that all ten incarnations of The Doctor would appear together in a 15-minute episode to be shown as part of the annual telethon in November.
The special would see David Tennant's Doctor calling on his nine predecessors to help him find a missing piece of Time Lord apparatus. The actors who portrayed the first three Doctors - William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee - are all deceased but would be represented by archive footage.
The report also claimed that the special would mark the first appearance of Matt Smith as the Doctor, although Smith is not due to take over from Tennant in the titular role until early 2010.
A spokesman told the newspaper: "Nothing has been finalised yet, although there is discussion of a Children in Need Doctor Who special. It is too early to say what."
Thursday, June 18, 2009
walesonline has Timothy Dalton article also
Bond star Timothy Dalton to appear in Doctor Who
JAMES BOND star Timothy Dalton has returned to the land of his birth to take a starring role in sci-fi hit Doctor Who.
The Colwyn Bay-born actor is to feature in a Christmas special that will include David Tennant’s final scenes as the time-travelling hero.
Dalton, who played Bond in The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill, has left his home in Los Angeles to film in Cardiff, where the revived BBC series is based.
He plays a terrifying judge who puts the Doctor on trial in an intergalactic court case.
It will be his first major role since playing an evil neighbourhood watch member in the spoof British comedy Hot Fuzz.
Christian Cawley, editor of Doctor Who and Torchwood website Kasterborous, said the casting was “a big coup for Doctor Who”.
He said: “It’s a good gig for him as it will be one of the most memorable episodes yet. If true, it’s a superb piece of casting. Timothy Dalton is a big coup for Doctor Who because he’s pretty iconic.
“While not considered as memorable a Bond as Pierce Brosnan, Dalton nevertheless brought a degree of grit and realism to Bond that has recently been rediscovered in the Daniel Craig films.
“His roles in various classical titles on stage and screen as well as his appearance in the only non-camp role in Flash Gordon (1980) have given him a deserved air of quality and respect over the years.”
Elaine Penn, features editor at TV Choice magazine, said Doctor Who could put a new spark in Dalton’s career as well.
She said: “Doctor Who has done wonders for many people’s careers in recent years. Even David Tennant wasn’t really a household name until he stepped into the Tardis.”
She said female viewers “of a certain age” would appreciate the dashing actor.
She said: “Personally, I’ve always had a soft spot for tall, dark, Welsh men.
“I’m wondering if Timothy can be persuaded to don a dinner suit in the Christmas Special, and am sure that Russell T Davies will throw in some kind of in-joke for James Bond fans. What a great bit of casting. And he can even pop home to visit the family while he’s filming.”
The Christmas Special will be one of three end-of-year specials that will bring down the curtain on David Tennant’s spell in the Tardis.
It is expected to see the return of a host of famous names from recent series including John Simm, 38, who will reprise his role as The Master, as well as the companions who have kept Tennant company, Catherine Tate, Billie Piper and Freema Agyeman.
Matt Smith, 26, is to “regenerate” into the role on the death of Tennant’s Doctor.
For Rada-trained Dalton the role will fit into a CV that ranges from The Royal Shakespeare Company and Flash Gordon to James Bond.
The 63-year-old’s career began with a series of period dramas including playing Philip II of France in The Lion in Winter and a remake of Wuthering Heights in 1970, in which he portrayed the tortured Heathcliff.
Dalton could have played Bond as a 22-year-old, turning down a request from producer Albert Broccoli in the late 1960s to take over from Sean Connery.
The actor, who had a long relationship with Vanessa Redgrave in the 1970s and 80s, lives in Los Angeles with his Russian musician partner Oksana Grigorieva and their 12-year-old son Alexander.
JAMES BOND star Timothy Dalton has returned to the land of his birth to take a starring role in sci-fi hit Doctor Who.
The Colwyn Bay-born actor is to feature in a Christmas special that will include David Tennant’s final scenes as the time-travelling hero.
Dalton, who played Bond in The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill, has left his home in Los Angeles to film in Cardiff, where the revived BBC series is based.
He plays a terrifying judge who puts the Doctor on trial in an intergalactic court case.
It will be his first major role since playing an evil neighbourhood watch member in the spoof British comedy Hot Fuzz.
Christian Cawley, editor of Doctor Who and Torchwood website Kasterborous, said the casting was “a big coup for Doctor Who”.
He said: “It’s a good gig for him as it will be one of the most memorable episodes yet. If true, it’s a superb piece of casting. Timothy Dalton is a big coup for Doctor Who because he’s pretty iconic.
“While not considered as memorable a Bond as Pierce Brosnan, Dalton nevertheless brought a degree of grit and realism to Bond that has recently been rediscovered in the Daniel Craig films.
“His roles in various classical titles on stage and screen as well as his appearance in the only non-camp role in Flash Gordon (1980) have given him a deserved air of quality and respect over the years.”
Elaine Penn, features editor at TV Choice magazine, said Doctor Who could put a new spark in Dalton’s career as well.
She said: “Doctor Who has done wonders for many people’s careers in recent years. Even David Tennant wasn’t really a household name until he stepped into the Tardis.”
She said female viewers “of a certain age” would appreciate the dashing actor.
She said: “Personally, I’ve always had a soft spot for tall, dark, Welsh men.
“I’m wondering if Timothy can be persuaded to don a dinner suit in the Christmas Special, and am sure that Russell T Davies will throw in some kind of in-joke for James Bond fans. What a great bit of casting. And he can even pop home to visit the family while he’s filming.”
The Christmas Special will be one of three end-of-year specials that will bring down the curtain on David Tennant’s spell in the Tardis.
It is expected to see the return of a host of famous names from recent series including John Simm, 38, who will reprise his role as The Master, as well as the companions who have kept Tennant company, Catherine Tate, Billie Piper and Freema Agyeman.
Matt Smith, 26, is to “regenerate” into the role on the death of Tennant’s Doctor.
For Rada-trained Dalton the role will fit into a CV that ranges from The Royal Shakespeare Company and Flash Gordon to James Bond.
The 63-year-old’s career began with a series of period dramas including playing Philip II of France in The Lion in Winter and a remake of Wuthering Heights in 1970, in which he portrayed the tortured Heathcliff.
Dalton could have played Bond as a 22-year-old, turning down a request from producer Albert Broccoli in the late 1960s to take over from Sean Connery.
The actor, who had a long relationship with Vanessa Redgrave in the 1970s and 80s, lives in Los Angeles with his Russian musician partner Oksana Grigorieva and their 12-year-old son Alexander.
Who crew on for San Diego Comic-Con
If i only ha d the money to go :(
Sci Fi Wire reports reports David Tennant and Russell T. Davies will attend Comic-Con International in San Diego next month along with some of the cast and crew of Torchwood, CLICK HERE for more details and HERE for the schedule from David-Tennant. com
Sci Fi Wire reports reports David Tennant and Russell T. Davies will attend Comic-Con International in San Diego next month along with some of the cast and crew of Torchwood, CLICK HERE for more details and HERE for the schedule from David-Tennant. com
Monday, June 15, 2009
Proof that Timothy Dalton is doing a cameo?? hmmm
Io9 has an "exclusive" pic of Timothy Dalton, DT, and John Simm they say they recieved from an anonomyous source and i'd have to say it looks rather legit to me.
I want to go on record saying here and now that i think Timothy Dalton will be playing the Doctors' father in a flash back and nothing more, just a hunch i have and the first thing that came to mind when i looked at that pic. I mean we already know the Doctor's mother will appear so why not his father along with her.
I cannot wait to Simm again as the Master!!! He chewed so much scenery in his last appearance that i thought he would burst. Wonder how he will come back tho, and ideas?
Anyway here is the link to the article and pic at Io9, enjoy. The last time i published something of theirs without a credit or link they went batshit n all whiney so id sworn them off but can't avoid this "exclusive" :P
I want to go on record saying here and now that i think Timothy Dalton will be playing the Doctors' father in a flash back and nothing more, just a hunch i have and the first thing that came to mind when i looked at that pic. I mean we already know the Doctor's mother will appear so why not his father along with her.
I cannot wait to Simm again as the Master!!! He chewed so much scenery in his last appearance that i thought he would burst. Wonder how he will come back tho, and ideas?
Anyway here is the link to the article and pic at Io9, enjoy. The last time i published something of theirs without a credit or link they went batshit n all whiney so id sworn them off but can't avoid this "exclusive" :P
Friday, June 12, 2009
Matt Smith to face Daleks? Dammit why?
Ok, i am a fan of the daleks do not get me wrong, but Rusty over used them for like every damn season finale and i'd really like to see more old foes make apperances other than the same old rehash exterminate tin pots. K thats off my chest any way the article below popped up on the netz and i grabbed it for you to peruse. Enjoy!!
Matt Smith will battle The Daleks in his first 'Doctor Who' episode.
The 26-year-old actor - who takes over from current Time Lord David Tennant next year - will face the legendary extraterrestrial mutants in his first adventure to please fans who think he is too young to play the iconic role.
BBC bosses{the same ones who cancelled the show back in the 80"s}reportedly decided to revive the Doctor's most famous {overused} foes to boost {beat a dead horse} show ratings as they are worried Smith will not be as popular as Tennant - widely considered one of the most successful stars of the long running sci-fi series.
A network source told Britain's Daily Star newspaper: "They know fans will take a while to get used to Matt as The Doctor, so it makes sense to have him fight his most famous {overused} enemies. They always bring good ratings."
BBC chiefs have previously revealed they plan to "step back in time" when designing the Tardis for the new series of the programme.
Instead of the current brown and orange interior, the time and space machine will have blue walls and white windows, similar to the original 1960s Tardis.
The new series of 'Doctor Who' - which stars Smith at the 11th Time Lord - is due to start next spring
Matt Smith will battle The Daleks in his first 'Doctor Who' episode.
The 26-year-old actor - who takes over from current Time Lord David Tennant next year - will face the legendary extraterrestrial mutants in his first adventure to please fans who think he is too young to play the iconic role.
BBC bosses{the same ones who cancelled the show back in the 80"s}reportedly decided to revive the Doctor's most famous {overused} foes to boost {beat a dead horse} show ratings as they are worried Smith will not be as popular as Tennant - widely considered one of the most successful stars of the long running sci-fi series.
A network source told Britain's Daily Star newspaper: "They know fans will take a while to get used to Matt as The Doctor, so it makes sense to have him fight his most famous {overused} enemies. They always bring good ratings."
BBC chiefs have previously revealed they plan to "step back in time" when designing the Tardis for the new series of the programme.
Instead of the current brown and orange interior, the time and space machine will have blue walls and white windows, similar to the original 1960s Tardis.
The new series of 'Doctor Who' - which stars Smith at the 11th Time Lord - is due to start next spring
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Being Human Star In Tennant Who Finale
Sinead Keenan, who plays George's girlfriend Nina in Being Human, is in the final David Tennant two-parter, her agent has confirmed to SFX.
Although we don’t know who she’s playing, or how major her role is, according to Being Human creator Toby Whithouse, she nabbed the role because Russell T Davies loved her as Nina: “Bless him, Russell T Davies would email me after every single episode, going, 'I'm loving it!' He absolutely fell in love with Sinead who plays Nina. So he's given her a part in David Tennant’s last two parter.”
Although we don’t know who she’s playing, or how major her role is, according to Being Human creator Toby Whithouse, she nabbed the role because Russell T Davies loved her as Nina: “Bless him, Russell T Davies would email me after every single episode, going, 'I'm loving it!' He absolutely fell in love with Sinead who plays Nina. So he's given her a part in David Tennant’s last two parter.”
Karen Gillan triva on offical site
The Official BBC Doctor Who website has been updated with a Karen Gillan trivia challenge, CLICK HERE for the first question.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Children of Earth Premier on July 20th
BBC America has announced that Torchwood: Children of Earth will premier Monday July 20th, to visit the website CLICK HERE. TVShowsOnDVD reports the DVD release will be the following week, for more details CLICK HERE.
Wedding storylines for 'Doctor Who'?
David Tennant's Doctor Who swansong will feature three weddings, according to a report in The Sun.
The newspaper claims that former companions Rose Tyler, Martha Jones and Sarah Jane Smith will all be getting married.
Rose - played by Billie Piper - will reportedly marry the half-human clone of the Doctor in their parallel universe, while Martha (Freema Agyeman) is said to be tying the knot with Mickey Smith.
However, in the new series of Torchwood - airing next month on BBC One - it is revealed that Martha is already on her honeymoon.
Tennant will also make a special appearance in Who spinoff The Sarah Jane Adventures for the wedding of his former companion Sarah Jane.
Russell T. Davies said of the Sarah Jane episodes: "Viewers thought they may have to wait until November for the next full episode of Doctor Who - but this is an extra special treat."
Karen Gillan, 21, was recently named as the Doctor's new companion
The newspaper claims that former companions Rose Tyler, Martha Jones and Sarah Jane Smith will all be getting married.
Rose - played by Billie Piper - will reportedly marry the half-human clone of the Doctor in their parallel universe, while Martha (Freema Agyeman) is said to be tying the knot with Mickey Smith.
However, in the new series of Torchwood - airing next month on BBC One - it is revealed that Martha is already on her honeymoon.
Tennant will also make a special appearance in Who spinoff The Sarah Jane Adventures for the wedding of his former companion Sarah Jane.
Russell T. Davies said of the Sarah Jane episodes: "Viewers thought they may have to wait until November for the next full episode of Doctor Who - but this is an extra special treat."
Karen Gillan, 21, was recently named as the Doctor's new companion
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